Tigers Qualify for Nationals

November 16, 2008

Doane was named to the list of 36 teams that have qualified for the NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The opening round is November 22 at selected sites with the following rounds of pool play and tournament play on December 2-6 in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Tigers will host Bethel College in the Opening Round game of the NAIA Tournament at 7:00 PM on Saturday.

Bethel College, the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season and post-season champion, makes their third appearance in the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament. The Threshers are 23-9 overall and finished with a 16-2 record in KCAC play.

Doane College, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, received an at-large berth and makes their seventh appearance in the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament. The Tigers are 26-8 overall and finished with a 12-4 record in the GPAC.

About Bethel... The Threshers are from North Newton, Kansas, with an enrollment of 550 students. Bethel has won 18 of 33 all-time volleyball conference championships. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the Threshers have won 20+ games in a season. They placed five players on the All-KCAC teams this year. Kristen Schrag and Kari Thimm earned First Team honors while Bethany Thiesen, Christy Weems and Lindsey Oliver were named to the Second Team. Schrag was named the Libero-of-the-Year for the KCAC for the second year running and set the school record for career digs this year. Head Coach Chad Schilling was named the KCAC Coach-of-the-Year.

About Doane... The Tigers are from Crete, Nebraska, with an enrollment of 921. The volleyball program was started in 1972 and eclipsed 750 wins earlier this season. The Tigers took 25 wins into the post-season for the first time since the 1997 campaign. Doane placed five players on the All-GPAC list this season. Chelsee Marvin and Emily Schwisow were named to the First Team. Ashley Sluka and Jessy Livers received Second Team honors while Terra Andreasen was tabbed honorable mention. Schwisow was the only defensive player named to the First Team All-GPAC list. Head Coach Cindy Meyer will be seeking her 550th win tonight, entering the match with a 549-279 overall record. She is the winningest active coach in the state of Nebraska.

Side-outs... Bethel's Kari Thimm and Doane's Emily Schwisow were high school teammates at Beatrice... Bethel's last appearance in the national tournament was in 1983 while Doane's was in 2005... Bethel placed 3rd at the 1981 national tournament

Forever teammates... Bethel has four players who attended Moundridge HS (Kan.) while Doane has three players who attended Lincoln North Star HS (Neb.)